Air treating apparatus for sheet material separator



Feb. 4, 1969 E. 1.. LEIBOLD 3,425,686

AIR-TREATING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 21, 1967 HUM/O/Flf/L INVENTOR.

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Af/amqQs United States Patent 3,425,686 AIR TREATING APPARATUS FOR SHEET MATERIAL SEPARATOR Eldon L. Leibold, Pinedale Road, Clanton, Ala. 35045 Filed Aug. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 661,953 US. Cl. 271-26 3 Claims Int. Cl. B65h 3/08 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for cooling and humidifying air for a sheet material separator having vacuum type feed means connected to a vacuum pump. A humidifier is interposed be tween the exhaust of the vacuum pump and an air blower which supplies the treated air to the sheet material at the point of separation.

Background 0 the invention Brief summary of invention In accordance with my invention I provide a humidifier between the discharge end of a vacuum type pump and the inlet of a blower which is positioned to discharge air at the point of separation of the sheet material whereby cool air having increased humidity is discharged onto the sheets at the point of separation, thus providing for positive feed and delivery of the sheets and reducing missfeeds to a minimum. By cooling and increasing the humidity of the air discharged from the vacuum type pump as it passes through the humidifier, I not only reduce static electricity but reduce the tendency of the paper to curl to a minimum.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing my apparatus employed with a conventional type vacuum type feed unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, top plan view of the humidifier unit, the conduits connected thereto being broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing the interior or the humidifier unit; and,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the humidifier unit, parts being shown in section.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I Show a vacuum type feed unit indicated generally at which is adapted to :move to pick up position relative to a stack of sheet material indicated generally at 11 and then transfer the uppermost sheet to another location. Since the apparatus for handling paper may be of various types well known in the art to which my invention relates, no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

Communicating with the pick up and transfer unit 10 is one end of a conduit 12 having its other end communicating with the receiving or inlet 13 of a vacuum-type pump 14. The discharge end or exhaust 16 of the pump 14 communicates with one end of a conduit 17. The other end of conduit 17 communicates with one end of 3,425,686 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 a humidified unit indicated generally at 18. The other end of the humidifier unit 18 communicates with a conduit 19 which in turn communicates with a blower 21 having discharge openings 22 which are located in position to discharge air at the point of separation of the uppermost sheet of material from the remainder of the stack 11. Suitable spring means 23 may be provided beneath the stack of sheet material 11, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the uppermost sheet paper is in alignment with the discharge openings 22 of blower 21.

The humidifier unit 18 comprises a housing 24 which communicates adjacent one end with the discharge end of conduit 17 and communicates adjacent its other end with the receiving end of conduit 19 whereby air blown into the housing 24 by pump 14 is discharged through conduit 19 to the blower unit 21. The housing 24 is pro vided with a top wall 26, a bottom wall 27, end walls 28 and side walls 29, as shown in FIG. 3. Mounted within and spaced vertically above the bottom wall 27 is a horizontal partition 31 and mounted above and in spaced relation to the partition 31 is a second horizontal partition 32. The partition 32 defines with the upper portion of the housing 24 a reservoir 33 for receiving water which is introduced through an opening 34 having a screen 36 therein, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Mounted between the horizontal partitions 31 and 32 are a plurality of upstanding absorbent members 37 which may be of a suitable material, such as Molleton. An opening 38 is provided through the horizontal partition 32, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper portion of opening 38 being in the form of a conical recess which is adapted to receive the lower tapered end 39 of a vertical member 41 which is threaded externally as at 42 for engaging a threaded opening 43 provided in the top wall 26. An operating knob 44 is provided at the upper end of the member 41 for rotating the same whereby the valve opening defined between the tapered portion 39 and the opening 38 may be varied to thus regulate the flow of water through the opening 38 into the chamber defined between the partitions 31 and 32.

A threaded opening 46 is provided in the horizontal partition 31 for receiving the threaded end 47 of an upstanding overflow tube 48 which is of a height above the lower edges of the absorbent members 37, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby water which is not entrained in the moving stream of air through the chamber defined between the partitions 31 and 32 collects in the bottom of the chamber until it reaches the upper edge of the overflow tube 48 whereupon excess water overflows into a subjacent chamber defined between the bottom wall 24 and the horizontal partition 31. The water thus collected in the chamber defined between the horizontal partitions 31 and 32 is absorbed by the lower portions of the absorbent members 37 whereby water is supplied to the members 37 by flowing downwardly therethrough from the opening 38 and by absorption from the water collected above the horizontal partition 31. A suitable drain plug 49 is provided in the bottom wall 24 whereby water collected therein may be drained. However, by setting the valve unit consisting of the tapered portion 39 and the opening 38 properly, there would be little or no water overflowing into the chamber defined between the bottom wall 27 and the horizontal partition 31. If desired, the drain plug 49 may be omitted whereby the overflow of water could be discharged into a suitable receptacle or conduit.

A threaded opening 51 is provided in the horizontal partition 32 for receiving external threads 52; of a vent pipe 53 which extends upwardly through a suitable opening 54 in the top wall 26, as shown in FIG. 3.. The Vent tube 53 is of a size to discharge excess air introduced into the chamber defined between the partitions 31 and 32 whereby there is an even and controlled amount of air passing from conduit 17 through the chamber defined between the partitions 31 and 32 and then through conduit 19 to the blower 21.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. The conduit 12 is connected to a vacuum pick-up unit whereby air drawn inwardly of pump 14 is forced through conduit 17 into the chamber defined between the horizontal partitions 31 and 32. The valve knob 44 is adjusted to permit the proper amount of water to flow continuously through the opening 38 whereby the water is entrained by the air passing through the chamber. The water which is not picked up by the moving stream of air collects above the horizontal partition 31 whereby the absorbent members 37 continuously absorb this water thus compensating for any slight reduction of flow of water through opening 38. The water continues to build up on the lowermost partition 31 until it reaches the overflow conduit 48 whereupon excess water, if any, is discharged into the chamber defined between the bottom wall 24 and the partition 31. The hot air delivered to the humidifier 18 through conduit 17 is also cooled from to 20 degrees by its contact with the cool water carried by the absorbent members 37. The air passing through conduit 19 to blower 21 has from 15% to 25% more moisture than the air introduced through conduit 17 into the humidifier 18. Accordingly, the passage of the air alongside and through the absorbent members 37 not only increases the humidity of the air but also cools the air whereby there is no delivery of 'hot, dry air to the sheets of material to be separated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved unit for use with apparatus for separating and handling sheet material having vacuum type feed means. By providing means for increasing the humidity of the air from 15% to 25% and at the same time cooling the air delivered at the point of separation of the sheets of material, I reduce missfeeds to a minimum and provide for improved delivery of the individual sheets of material. Also, by varying the adjustment of the control member 44, the amount of humidity may be readily varied. Furthermore, by providing a unit which has no moving parts to wear out and has no electrical connections, my improved apparatus is troublefree in operation and requires substantially no maintenance.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof,

and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with apparatus for separating and handling sheet material having vacuum type feed means communicating with the negative pressure inlet side of a pump having an inlet and an exhaust, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a humidifier having an air inlet and an air outlet,

(b) means communicating the air inlet of said humidifier with the exhaust of said pump so that air is supplied to said humidifier,

(c) an air blower mounted in position to discharge air onto the sheet material at the point of separation thereof, and

(d) means communicating the outlet of said humidifier with said air blower for supplying air to said blower.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which the humidifier comprises:

(a) a housing having an air inlet adjacent one end thereof and an air outlet adjacent the other end thereof,

(b) upstanding absorbent numbers extending longitudinally of said housing,

(c) means to introduce water at a predetermined rate adjacent the upper portion of said absorbent members so that the water flows downwardly through said absorbent members as air passes through said housing and alongside said absorbent members, and

(d) means maintaining the water in said housing at a predetermined level above the lower edges of said absorbent members so that the water is absorbed by the lower portion of said absorbent members.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 in which the means to introduce water at a predetermined rate comprises:

(a) a water reservoir in the upper portion of said housing,

(b) a water discharge opening through the bottom of said reservoir.

(c) adjustable control means varying the effective size of said discharge opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,294,396 12/1966 Staines 271-26 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X2R. 271-30 

